New research launched on Monday by The Industrial Society reveals managers blame stress and low motivation for a high number of cases of absence from the workplace, despite what their workers are telling them.

The new Industrial Society report Maximising Attendance highlights startling discrepancies between what employees say is the reason for their absence and what managers think is the true cause. Stress and low morale are amongst the hidden problems:

These are the most common reasons for absence:

Recorded by employees on self-certification forms:

1. Colds/flu
2. Stomach upsets/food-poisoning
3. Headaches/migraines
4. Back problems
5. Stress/emotional/personal problems

In managers' own opinion:

1. Colds/flu
2. Stress/emotional/personal problems
3. Monday morning blues/extending the weekend
4. Low morale/boring job
5. Child care problems/family sickness

Absence costs the UK economy around £13 billion each year and even more in knock-on effect. The overall absence rate is 3.5% nationally, an average of 8 days per employee per year.

The causes of absence are a significant problem. The survey highlights that stress/emotional/personal problems cause a high rate of absence. Significantly, managers believe this number is actually higher. This may indicate that working life is too pressurised for a vast number of employees.

Jean Balcombe, Head of Information Services at The Industrial Society, comments: " The hidden costs of absenteeism, in addition to the headline figure, augment the scale of the problem. However the good news is that absence can be reduced. It is vital that organisations monitor absence rates carefully, identifying the true causes and costs, in order to determine solutions. Employees need to know that they are needed, that absence is taken seriously, and that employers want to help."

Anna Lagerkvist